Engine



J. s. BARMER.

APPLICATION 24, 1919. l 1,406,330, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

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Y lNvENToR j. S. BARNER.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2-4, IsIsI.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR ,56E/1%,

ATTORNEY'.

J. S. BARNR.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24.1919.

1,406,330, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

3 SHEET-S-SHEET 3.

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JOHN S. BARNER, 0F COLVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Application filed February 24, 1919.

To @ZE fw hom t 'nt/,ry concern Be it known that l, Jer-IN S. Banner, a citizen oi the United tates.l residing at Colver, in the county ot Cambria, State et Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Engines; and l. do hereby declare the iollowing to be a full, eleaiaand exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rlhis invention relates to engines oi the type in which the main valve for controlling the admission of motive liuid to the cylinder and the exhaust therefrom is itself actuated `by the fluid under the control of valves actuated by a. moving part of the engine.

.ln m Patent No. 1,171,017, issued February S, 1916, there is shown an engine of this type in combination. with an air coinpressor ot the compound type commonly employed in connection with air brake systems. "F he engine there shown, which is also of the..co1nponnd type, comprises a high pressure cylinder provided with a main valve 'tor controlling the admission ot steam to this cylinder and its subsequent discharge into the low pressure cylinder. rThe main valve is provided with pistons which are actuated by the eilect ot unbalanced steam pressures upon opposite sides thereof'. rlhis eii'ect is `produced by tappet valves actuated by the piston ot the high pressure cylinder at the ends oi' its stroke and whichy control ports ot the main valve chest to cause suitable variations in pressure therein with resultant actuation ot the main valveV to reverse the stroke of the piston ot the high pressure cylinder and at the same time control the admission to the low pressure cylinder oi the exhaust trom the high pressure cylinder.

With an valve like oit the same engine having a steam actuated that shown in my patent, or one general type, it is possible tor Athe main valve to assume such a position that it will lap both of the ports leading to opposite ends of the cylinder so that the piston will not be moved and hence neither of the tappet valves will be actuated to unbalance the steam pressure acting upon Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

serial ne. 278,580.

the pistons ot the main valve which will, therefore, remain in lap 'position and it will lie impossible to start the engine.

It is an object ot this invention to overcome this serious defect of steam'actuated valves by providing an arrangement which will prevent the valve from remaining in position to lap the cylinder ports andrendering the starting of the engine impossible.

Among other advantages ot the invention may be mentioned its simplicity, its applicability to existing engines without extensive alterations, and the absence of any moving parts in addition to those already present in the engine.

The particular nature of the invention will appear more clearly 'from a description of a preferred embodiment thereof, and for the purpose et illustration the invention has been shown in connection with an engine o1" the general type shown in my patent mentioned above, but for the sake oit' simplicity the low pressure cylinder and its connections have been omitted, as have also the cylinders ot the air compressor.

1n the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the cylinder in longitudinal section and the main valve and its chest in transverse section while the poppet valves are shown in distorted position, the upper showing as ii' sectioned on a diameter through the passage 48, the lower showing partly as 'it sectioned on a diameter, parallel to that through the cylinder, while the passage et@ isshown in normal position. Fig. 2 shows the cylinder in transverse section and the main valve and its chest in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cylinder in section .along the line 3"-3 ot 2. Fig. l is a sectional view of the main valve chest along the line il ot Fig. 2 with the valve removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a tappet valve along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view online 6 6 of Fig. 1 showing the valve in the mid-position covering the main ports with the port 50 registering with the conduit 51 in such a manner as to relieve the balanced pressure on the valve.

Aside from the presence of the improvements of the present invention, the engine shown herein is substantially like the high pressure engine of my patent mentioned above, except that the main valve is mounted upon the side of the cylinder instead of upon the head, as in the patent. In the drawings, 10 represents the cylinder provided with heads 11 and 12. Thepiston 13 is connected to a piston rod 14 passing through the usual stuiing box 15 attached to the head 12. The cylinder is provided with ports 16 leading to the usual drain cocks. At one side of the cylinder is an extension 17, the outer face of which forms a seat for the main valve and its chest. The interioroi' the extensionisforined as a chamber 18 communicating with the main valve through a port 19 and provided with an exhaust pipe 20. The valve seat is also provided with a steam admission port 21 communicating with a passage 22 extending longitudinally throngh'the wall oit the cylinder and opening into the latter adjacent the lhead 11. A similar steam admission port 23 communicates with a corresponding passage 24 leading to the other end of the cylinder.

The main valve chest of the engine coinprises a casing 25 adapted tofbe clamped to the seat on the extension 17 by bolts 26. The chest is provided with heads 27 at each end, Vand steam is admitted to the chest through a pipe 28. Slidably mounted within the chest is a main valve 29 provided with a recess 30 by which the ports 21 and 23 are alternately placed `in communication with the exhaust port 19. VThe main valve 29 is adapted to be operated by pistons 31 and 32 fitting within cylindrical bores of the valve chest.

As is customary with steam actuated main valves the pistons 31 and 32 are operated by the efect of unbalanced steam pressures. To produce this effect in the present case, there is provided near each head ot the valve chest a port-33 communicating with a conduit 34 formed in the wall of the chest and registering with a corresponding conduit 35 passing inwardly through the extension 17 of the cylinder and then longitudinally through the wall oit the cylinder where it communicates with a chamber of the corresponding Vtappet valve. Adjacent each of the conduits 35 is a conduit 36 extending longitudinally through the wall of the cylinder and then outwardly throughv the extension 17 where it registers with a corresponding conduit 37 in the wall of the main valve chest. By means ot ducts each of the conduits 37 `is in communication with the chamber of the main valve chest between the pistons 31 and 32,' these duct-s terminating near beveled portions of the valve chest seat so as to permit steam to flow into these chiots.

The tappet valves are of identical construction and each comprises a casing 40 thus far described closed at one end by a piston 42 provided with a stem 43 extending through the corresponding head of the cylinder in position to be engaged by the piston 13 at the end of its stroke. It should be remembered that the showing of both poppet valves is somewhat distorted in Fig. 1 as'already noted in the description of said ligure. The casing is provided with a port 44 communicating with a pipe 45 connected to the exhaust passage of the engine. The casing is provided also with a conduit 46 communicating with the chamber of thetappet valve between the cap 41 and the piston 42,and adapted to register with the conduit 36 in the cylinder wall when the tappet valve is'in place on the head of the cylinder. The inner wall of the tappet valve casing is provided with a conduit 47, which when the tappet valve is in place, registers with the conduit 35 in the wall of the cylinder, thus providing communication between the last named conduit and the chamber formed on the other side of tappet valve piston 42. The inner face ot the tappet valve casing is provided With a longitudinal slot 48, which at one end terminates nearthe conduit 47, and at the other end extends far enough'to communicate with the outer chamberof thetappet valve when the piston 42 occupies its normal position as shown in the drawings.

- The operation of the parts of the engine is as follows:

Assuming that the slide valve occupies the position with relation to the exhaustand admission ports shown inFig. 2, steam entering the main valve chest will pass through the admission port 21 and enter the cylinder through the passage way 22 where it will act upon the piston 13 to drive it through the cylinder. At this time each of the tappet valve pistons occupies its normal position so that there is a passage way for the steam through each of the ducts 38, registering conduits 37, 36 and 46 to the outer chamber of the tappet valve. This outer chamber is in communication with the inner chamber through the slot 48 on account of the position ot the tappet valve piston, so that steam may pass through the registering conduits 47, 35 and 34 and enter the chambers at each end ofthe main valve chest through ports 33. The steam pressures on opposite sides of the pistons of the main slide valve will thus be equalized, and the valve will remain in the position shown allowing steam to enter the cylinder through the port 21 and passage way 22 while the exhaust from the other side of the piston will take place through the passage way 24 and port 23 into the recess 30 oi the main valve and thence into the exhaust chamber 18. The piston will move through the cylinder and as it reaches the end of its stroke it will engage the stem 43 of one ofthe a cap 41 and containing i fect on said main valve depending on the position and movement thereof' when it occupies such a position that admission of motive fluid to the cylinder is prevented so that the piston cannot be actuated to control the valves, said means being so constructed as to be rendered ineffective by movement of the main valve to a position in which fluid may -be admitted to the cylinder.

2. ln a steam engine having a cylinder provided with admission and exhaust ports and passages, a piston in said cylinder, a piston actuated main valve for controlling said passages, conduits for admitting fluid to both sides of the pistons of the control valveto equalize the pressures thereon, tappet valves located at opposite ends of the cylinder in position to `be actuated by the piston in its extreme positions and each controlling one of the conduits to relieve fluid pressure therein when the tappet valve is actuated, the combination of' means independent of the tappet valves for relieving the fluid pressure in one of the conduits when the main valve occupies such a position that fluid cannot be admitted to the cylinder to actuate the piston therein.

3. In a steam engine having a cylinder provided with admission and exhaust ports and passages, a piston in said cylinder, a piston actuated main valve for controlling said passages, conduits for admitting fluid to both sides of the pistons of the control valve to equalize the pressures'thereon, tappet valves located at opposite ends of the cylinder in position to be actuated by the piston in its extreme positions and each controlling one of the conduits to relieve fluid nected to one of said conduits, and a conduit associated with the main valve andadapted to be brought into communication with the last named conduit to relieve fluid pressure in the conduit to which the said last named conduit is connected when the main valve occupies such a position that fluid cannot be admitted to the cylinder to actuate the piston therein.

4. ln a steam engine, the cylinder, a piston therein, a main valve for controlling the admission of motive fluid to the cylinder and the exhaust therefrom, pistons for operating the main valve, means' for obtaining a normally balanced effect of motive fluid pressure upon the valve pistons, means under the control of the cylinder piston for producing an unbalanced effect upon the valve pistons alternately as the cylinder piston reaches the ends of its stroke to cause actuation of the main valve and reversal of' the stroke of the cylinder piston, and means under the control of the. main valve for producing an unbalanced effect upon one of the valve pistons when the main valve occupies th at motive fluid cannot cylinder to actuate the plssuch va position admittedto the ton therein.

5. In a steam engine, a cylinder, a piston therein, a main valve for controllingthe admission of motive fluid to thecylinder and the exhaust therefrom, a casing; for the main valve, pistons in the casing for operating the main valve, means for supplying motive fluidto said-casing between the pistons, conduits for conveying fluid from between the pistons to the outer side of each piston whereby fluid pressures are normally equalized on both sides of the pistons, means under control of the cylinder piston for relieving `fluid pressure on the outer side of the valve pistons as the cylinder piston reaches the end of its stroke to unbalance the pressures on the valve pistons and causeyoperation of the main valve to reverse the stroke of the cylinder piston, and means under control of the main valve for relieving fluid pressure on the outer side of one of the valve pistons when the main valve occupies such a position that motive fluid cannot be admitted to the cylinder to actuate the piston therein.

6. In a steam engine, a cylinder, a piston therein, a main valve for controlling the admission of motive fluid to the cylinder and the exhaust therefrom, a casing for the main valve, pistons in the casingfor operating the main valve, means for supplying motive fluid tothe chamber between the pistons for admission to the cylinder, conduits communicating with the chamber between the pistons, conduits communicating with the chambers formed between the endsV of the casing and the outer faces of the pistons, connecting conduits between the above named conduits to permit the flow of motive fluid from the chamber between thepistons to the chambers in the ends of the casing, means under control of the cylinder piston for closing the connecting conduits and `thereafter relieving fluid pressure in the conduits communicating withthe chambers in the ends of the casing as the piston reaches the ends ofV itsstroke, and means under control of the main valve for relieving fluid pressure inthe conduit communicating with one of the chambers in the end of the casing when the main valve occupies such a position that motive fluid cannot be admitted toy the cylinder to actuate the piston therein.

7. In a steam engine, a cylinder, a piston therein, a main valve, conduits for the motive fluid communicating with both ends of the cylinder and terminating in admission ports in the seat of the main valve, a c onduit for exhaust motive fluid terminating in the seat of the main valve, to the main valve, conduits for supplying motive fluid to the outer side of' each of the main valve pistons` a conduit communicating with one of the last named conduits and pistons connectedv terminating at the seat of the main valve adjacent the exhaust port therein, and a conduit in the main valve adapted to provide communicatimi between the end of the last named conduit and the exhaust port when the main valve occupied a position lapping both of the admission ports in its seat.

8. in a steam engine, a cylinder, a piston therein, conduits for the motive fluid communicating with both ends of the cylinder, a main valve for controlling the admission of motive fluid to the conduits and slidably mounted on a seat formed on the wall of the cylinder, said main valve being provided with a cavity in the face that engages the seat, a piston connected to each end of the main valve, a casing surrounding the main valve and its pistons and forming chambers of the outer ends of the pistons, a pipe for supplying motive fluid to the main valve between the pistons, tappet valves mounted at the ends of the cylinder and each provided with an exhaust port and a piston normally covering the port and having a stem extending within the cylinder in position to be engaged by the piston therein at the ends of its stroke, conduits extending from the chambcr between the pistons of the main valve to the chambers on one side of the pistons of the tappet valves, conduits extending from the chambers in the casing at the outer ends of the pistons of the main valves to the chambers on the other side of the pistons of the tappet valves, a conduit in each tappet valve for establishing communication between the chambers in opposite sides of the piston thereof, and a relief conduit communicating with one of the conduits extending from a chamber at the outer end of one of the main valve pistons, said relief conduit terminatingat the seat of the main valve in position to register with the cavity in the main valve when the latter occupies such a position that motive fluid cannot be supplied to either' of the conduits communicating with the ends of the cylinder, whereby the pressure may be relieved in the conduit to which the relief conduit is connected and a condition of unbalanced fluid pressures be produced in the end chambers of the casing.

9. ln an engine with a steam actuated valve, a cylinder, tappet valves and tappet valve chambers on said cylinder, a valve chest, steam passages and exhaust passages extending therebetween, auxiliary passages between said valve chest and said tappet valve chambers, a valve in said chest, and an additional auxiliary passage including a portion of one of said first named auxiliary passages extending from an exhaust passage to one side of the steam actuated valve only when the steam actuated valve covers both steam passages to the cylinder.

l0. ln an engine with a steam actuated valve, a cylinder, tappet valves and tappet valve chambers on said cylinder', a valve chest, steam passages and exhaust passages extending therebetween, auxiliary passages between said valve chest and said tappet valve chambers, a valve in said chest and additional auxiliary passages, including a portion of one of said first named auxiliary passages extending between an exhaust passage and one end of the steam actuated valves, at such time as the valve may cover all the steam passages to the cylinder, and means for closing said first named auxiliary passage upon movement of the said actuated valve from said position covering the steam passages.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN S. BARNER. 

